Separable electrical connector



w. T. WEIDENMAN, sa `2,225,728 SEPARABLE ELECTRCAL CONNECTOR Dec. 24,1940.V

.Filed Jan. 3, 1959 j wenn s Patented Dec. 24, 1940 SEPRABLE ELECTRICALCONNECTOR William T. Weidenman, Sr., Spring Valley, N. Y., C assignor toTelephonics Corporation, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New YorkApplication January 3, 1939, serial No. 248,971

1 claim.

This invention relates to separable electrical connectors, and hasparticular reference to connectors comprising two interlocking elementsadapted to electrically connect a plurality of electrical conductors,regardless of the relatively angular positions of the contactingportions of each element when joined. l

separable electrical connectors are commonly used in aeroplanetelephony, particularly as quickly detachable connections for use withradio appliances such as head phones and microphones. These connectorsare subjected to varying weather conditions, high and low temperaturesand are used in restricted spaces and associated with many otherinstruments so that little space and poor visibility are provided formanipulating such connections. t v j Because of the field of use of such`devices a desirable type of device, therefore, should bey 2weatherproof and provide a connection of reasonable strength yet easilydetachableby a jerk or pull in emergency. For this and other uses, theelements should be readily connected under all adverse conditions and tothat end eliminate t the necessity of fitting parts toa number of par-Accordingly, devices embodying the present invention includingcooperating, releasably connected plugs and sockets forming one` set ofelectrical connections and concentricallyv arranged contact portionsthatare capable of` completing circuits when the plugs and sockets areconnected, the elements of the device being provided with waterproofsheaths that coact to render the entire connection moistureproof.

The concentric arrangement of the contacts of o the separable elementsassures completion of the connections between the several electricalconductors regardless of relative rotation of the parts, thus overcomingthe difdculties encountered in inserting multiple prong plugs inconnectors having multiple sockets.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be hadto the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan-view of a connector constructed in accordance withthe present invention, with parts of the device broken away, a Y cordbeing appended to one end 'of the connector;

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional View of the device with the adjacentportions thereof in con- 4 l The stud 38 is encircled by an insulatingbushing 55 tacting position completing the circuits; and

the sheaths are cupped, feather-edged and slightly overlength so thatthe edges deform each other upon abutment, thus sealing the joint andforming a moistureproof connection I3 when members I0 and Il are joined,as illustrated in Figure 2. 15

A suitably insulated electrical lead wire I 4 is molded in the end ofthe sheath I2 of element I0, and secured in` a recess I8 in the end of athreaded stud `2l) having a flange 20a thereon. the end of wire I4 beingserrated to insure suit- 20 able anchorage within the stud 20.

The stud 2U extends through an insulating bushing 22 formed of Bakelite,hard rubber or other insulating material, andis threaded into or fotherwise secured in terminal connecting 25 piece or plug member 26. Thebushing 22 includes a iiange 22a which abuts the flange 20a on the stud20. The plug member 26 may be permanently secured to the stud 20 bypunching in or deformlng the plug at point 28- before en- 30 closurewithin the rubber sheath I2. An insulating bushing 3|) formed ofBakelite or other hard insulating material encloses the major poi tionof the plug member 26 and has an inwardlir directed flange 30a disposedbetween the plug 35 member -2li and the end of the bushing 22.

VKThe wire or cable` is illustrated as the shielded type, the shield 24forming its second conductor and encircling and being insulated from thewire I4, as is usual. The shield 24 is electrically con- 40 nected andbound by wire 34 to a metallic sleeve 32, which is supported on thebushings 22 and 30 concentrically with respect to said plug member 26and insulated therefrom by the bushings 22 and 30. The sleeve 32includes a reduced por 45 tion 32a which is disposed between the flange22a on the bushing 22 and the end 30a of the bushing 30, therebyretaining all of these elements in nxed relationship.

The connecting or socket member II similarly 50 consists of a protectingrubber sheath I2 enclosing .a threaded and ilanged stud 38 having asocket in which an electrical conductor 36 is inserted and electricallyconnected as by solder.

40 throughout a portion of its length and is threaded into a metallicsleeve 42. The sleeve 42 and stud 38 are permanently connected byprick-punching the assembly at 44. An insulating sleeve 46 encircl-esflanged sleeve 42 and together with bushing 40 supports and insulatesthe concentric contact sleeve 56 from the Contact sleeve 42. lTheseelements are assembled and retained in fixed relationship similarly tothe corresponding portions of plug member I0.

The outer end of the sleeve 42 is longitudinally slotted, permittingspreading of its flanged ends 50 to allow insertion of coaxialconnecting plug 52 on the end of the plug member 26, said plug 52 beingundercut to allow the ends 50 to grip and retain the plug 52 after itslnsertion. Any number of slots 41 such as, for example, six, may beprovided to render the sleeve 42 sufficiently resilient to allow theanged ends 50to spread` to receive plug 52*` Inasmuch as the sleeve 42and the sheaths I2 are'resilient, the connector elements I0 and II neednot be in alignment when they are snapped together. Moreover, they canbe disconnected by pulling them apart axially or by bending them at anangle relatively to eachother.

A conductor 54 is attached to the contact sleeve by a binding 58, aportion of the sleeve silient ngers 66.

of the sleeves 32 and 56 are so related that the 56 extending outwardlybeyond the bushing 46 and being slotted longitudinally to provide re-The diameters and lengths ngers 60 are exed outwardly in passing overthe end of sleeve 32 when the plug 52 is received within the anged ends50 of the'sleeve 42, and the ends of the fingers 60 and sleeve 32 arechamfered to allow them to engage easily.

The conductors 36 and 54 may be of any pliable material with highelectrical conductivity, such as tinsel, said conductors extendingthrough separate exible insulated elements 62 and 64 that diverge fromthe connecting member II, thus forming a Y cord as shown in Figure l.Suitably insulated supporting Wires 66 form a framework for thesuper-imposed soft rubber housing of the Y cord, increasing its strengthand also providing a carrying member for conductors 36 and 54. Any othertypes of conductors may be used instead of Y cord construction, as theparticular purpose may demand.

The connecting elements may be easily produced. In assembling forexample the connector element I0, .the bushing 22 is slipped onto thestud against the flange 20a, the sleeve contact 32 then being telescopedon the bushing 22 and the bushing 30 slipped between the sleeve contact32 and the stud 20. The plug member 26 is then threaded onto the stud,locking the sleeve contact 32 and bushings 22 and 30 in place and theassembly punched at 28 to secure it in permanent relationship. Theconductors I4 and 24 are then connected to the contact elements, and therubber sheath I2 molded thereon. The completed connector thus forms aunitary member, in which all of the parts are permanently associated inaccurate relationship.

Inasmuch as theelectrical contacts are con centrically disposed it isunnecessary to connect them in any predetermined rotated relationship.Connectors embodying the invention, therefore, are particularly suitablefor use under conditions such that they must be connected, anddisconnected quickly and without being visable, and thus fulfull therequirements of radio appliances in the aviation field since theyeliminate the formation of reversed connections and the necessity ofobserving the relationship of the parts before connecting. Additionally,the moistureproof coverings of the devices allow them to be used underadverse weather conditions and the soft rubber sheathsreduce thetendency of thel plugs to break under shock and vibration.

While the invention has been described with reference to the specicstructures shown in the accompanying drawing, it is not to be limitedsave as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

A separableelectrical connector comprising a pair of connector elements,each having a stud member, a contact carried by the stud member, a pairof insulating elements concentric with said member. a contact sleevesupported on said insulating members concentric with the said studmember and contact and having an inwardly directed flange interposedbetween said insulating elements, and a resilient moisture-proof sheathhaving a free outer edge portion of reduced thickness surrounding saidstud, insulating elements and sleeve, the contact of one of vsaidconnector elements including an undercut plug disposed inwardly of thefree edge of its sheath and the contact of the other connector elementincluding a plurality of annularly disposed flanged ngers extendingbeyond the free edge of its sheath adapted to detachably receive andgrip said undercut plug and retain said contact sleeves in engagementand free edge portions of said sheaths in resilient engagement to i forma moisture-proof seal, whereby the connector elements maybe connectedand disconnected when in axial alignment or out of axial alignment.

WILLIAM T. WEIDENMAN, Sn.

